Woman sues city over tree root hazard

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A Kamloops woman who claims she was injured after tripping over a tree root is suing the City of Penticton.

The claim was filed Aug. 15 in Kamloops by Donna Alice Russell.

Russell states in the claim that on Aug. 29, 2014, she was a tourist in the city walking across Penticton's Rotary Park when she tripped and fell as a result of striking a root from a tree which was growing in the park and presented an unforeseen hazard.

She further says the city failed to maintain the park by either removing or shaving down roots which grow up out of the grass and present potential obstacles or hazards to people walking on the grass.

The city also failed, the claim states, to put up any reasonable signage or other warnings that would indicate to people using the park that roots growing through the grass could pose potential hazards.

The main injury she suffered as a result of the fall was a fractured ankle, resulting in permanent impairment and disability, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

She has been hospitalized and undergone surgery and continues to suffer pain in the ankle, she claims.

The incident also had a financial impact on her life, she says, as she has had to pay for hospital charges, drugs and medication and transportation costs.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit could not be reached for immediate comment on the claim.

Stewart Duncan says:
September 2, 2016 04:37pm

Perhaps Penticton should cut down the trees, put them in a tree museum, and pave the park so it's more like a parking lot. That way, people who can't handle walking in a friggin' park won't be able to walk straight into a tree trunk and knock themselves silly.
But, apparently, you just never know.
Sarcasm aside, I do hope Ms. Russell has a full recovery. It sounds like a most unpleasant ordeal. But, still.